Touching the dice
“A universe of misfortune was at Bruno’s fingertips, he only had to touch the dice.”
— Jonathan Lethem, “A Gambler’s Anatomy,” a backgammon novel if you can believe it
Pens in the Family
As discussed on a recent episode, I’m generally hesitant to bring up the podcast, even among friends and family. It’s just a little…awkward. But in the spring, after a few days of wonderful quality time with my aunt, uncle, and cousin, this little project of ours came up organically in conversation (yeah, right). My aunt’s wheels began to turn in her particular way on the topic of stationery, and she disappeared for a few minutes, returning with a beautiful set of writing instruments, a fountain pen with a 14k gold nib and a mechanical pencil, both of the Sheaffer Lifetime ilk. The barrels were a ribbed amber design with little “tuckaway” features like a shortened clip and short body, similar to the pen listed here. Delightful little details and mysteries to solve in terms of how to use the vacuum filler, what size lead to use, etc.
Best of all, they are both engraved with my grandmother’s name. My aunt was pleased, after having kept these for years without the desire to learn how to get them going, that she found someone who, while I won’t likely get back to “like new,” can appreciate them and who actually has some ink on hand.
When I got home, I took some basic steps to clean it out. I filled the body up with ink and…it promptly poured all over the place. No biggie, it’ll be a dipper for life that is a treasured part of my modest pen collection. My favorite pens are the ones that emerge like little magic milestones along the highway of life. - Ted
Listening
I’m on Monocle Concierge getting advice for an upcoming trip to Poland. - Adam
The One True Podcast – a podcast about Ernest Hemingway – defies gravity. How could a single topic, covered from every angle imaginable, continue to maintain interest? Well, there are some answers, one of which is to invite wonderful thinkers to discuss the author and the context of his life and work (Host Mark Cirino also does a fine job balancing Hemingway obsession with critical challenges). US Poet Laureate emeritus Robert Pinsky is one such guest who riffs on the segment that asks visitors to offer up their favorite Hemingway sentence and discuss. I didn’t know Pinsky, but his discussion of writing and language pumped liquid electricity into my brain. I encourage you to listen. Even if Hemingway isn’t your bag, there is much to enjoy on the poetry of sentences and the creative life. - Ted
Paul Simon doesn’t think you care about the details of songwriting and music making, and as a result he brings to his discussion with Malcolm Gladwell on Broken Record a kind of cantankerousness one hopes for from the professional dream-spinner. Someone who, guitar in hand, dances lithely from a riff on a track from his latest album to Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme to explain an unusual chord progression. - Ted
“Using Ink,” The Jeffersonian
Awhile back I traveled with the family to Monticello, where I found in a little museum section this fountain pen of TJ’s. Most delightful about Jefferson is that he seems to have been a constant note-taker and meddler, and I'd imagine those two traits often overlapped. - Ted
Asteroid City
We’ve all seen Asteroid City by now and look forward to discussing on a future podcast episode. The spoiler for my part is that it’s wonderful. - Ted
Lauren Groff
I read Lauren Groff’s story collection Florida on Ted’s recommendation and loved it. The voice in many of the stories is modern, unique, and frustrated but not frustrating. Groff can leave questions unanswered in a way that keeps the story alive in my mind. Read “The Midnight Zone” and her barnburner responses in the NYT By The Book column. - Adam